Premiership: Angel could have future at Villa - Taylor

Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor has denied that unsettled striker Juan Pablo Angel has played his last game for the club.

Taylor admits he is facing an uphill battle to retain the services of Villa’s £9.5m (€15.5m) record signing, who is unhappy at the way his family were treated when he first came to England.

The Colombia international was left out of Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Bolton when Taylor’s first signing, Peter Crouch from Portsmouth, made his debut.

Angel has struggled to show his best form since Taylor’s arrival in February and has also been troubled by a toe injury.

But, while Angel’s future remains in the balance, Taylor is adamant he has not frozen the former River Plate player out of his plans for the remainder of the campaign.

Taylor, whose side entertain Newcastle tonight, said: ‘‘I’ve never said that Angel won’t play for us again.

‘‘Surely anyone with any common sense is going to see that, while Juan’s future is still unresolved, I have to look at what my options will be next season.

‘‘But I’ve not said that I won’t be picking him again and it’s important that our supporters know that.’’

Angel has become the hero of the Holte End and is Villa’s top scorer with 15 goals this season after a slow start to his career at the club.